Two Foreign Nationals Remanded Over Drug Trafficking

The Criminal Court has remanded two Nepalese nationals to custody for 30 days each after they were arrested for allegedly trafficking more than 1.5 kilograms of narcotics into the Maldives, concealed inside their bodies.

The suspects, identified as Nikka Thamang, 47, and Ithraani Gale, 40, were intercepted upon arrival in the country by the Maldives Customs Service on suspicion of ingesting and carrying illicit substances. Customs officials subsequently transferred both individuals to the Drug Enforcement Department, where police formally arrested them on September 25. 

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A search of the suspects led to the recovery of 142 drug-filled bullets, with a preliminary combined weight exceeding 1.5 kilograms.

The court determined that releasing either suspect would pose a threat to public safety, finding sufficient evidence linking them to the offences. Thamang’s urine screening also returned positive for cocaine.

During hearings, the investigating officer detailed that both individuals had transported large volumes of illicit narcotics internally. Formal statement recording from both suspects has been delayed because the State has yet to provide them with requested legal aid; representation applications were submitted to the Attorney General’s Office on September 28, following their requests for state-appointed lawyers.